The Assembly of First Nations 3rd annual climate gathering was held this year in Calgary on 7-10 October 2024. The gathering theme was “Catalyzing First Nations Climate and Conservation Leadership for Transformative Change.” The goal of the gathering was to bring together Indigenous climate leaders, including First Nations experts, leaders, Elders, youth, women, 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals, and professionals, to unite, share knowledge, and learn and contribute to the AFN National Climate Strategy and Climate Lens.

A team from the Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages (CIKL) including Drs. Angele Alook and Sean Hillier, as well as 91��ɫ PhD student Adrienne Young, and 91��ɫ Undergraduate student Hector Jenkins, attended. The team also included CIKL community-based researcher Lydia Johnson and community partner, KG Bankjoko, Government Relations and Consultation Coordinator, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation – Dene Lands and Resource Management.

The team presented a holistic approach to addressing the climate crisis: One Health. The panel emphasized that health cannot only be looked at from a human-centric perspective, the climate emergency threatens All Our Relations (living and non-living). This way of thinking is known as One Health - a collaborative and transdisciplinary approach that recognizes the interconnection between people, animals, plants and their shared environment, drawing heavily on teaching from Indigenous knowledge systems.

Following the presentation, the team facilitated a discussion between the panel and attendees. Audience members shared the importance of centering Indigenous ways of thinking about health and the dynamic health challenges that climate change and colonialism have brought about for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities.

Over the three days, the 91��ɫ team attended presentations covering a range of issues related to Indigenous climate justice. The CIKL team felt particularly inspired by the climate leaders, knowledge keepers, and artists who presented dynamic and powerful responses to the climate crisis.

The opening remarks set a powerful tone, emphasizing the resilience of Indigenous spirit against colonial control. Discussing Mother Earth as a living relation and characterizing pollution as an illness invoked powerful imagery. Deb Pine’s presentation on sugar maples, enriched with Anishinaabemowin and stories of Lake Superior, brought a deeply decolonial perspective that emphasized the importance of connection to the land. Api’soomaahka’s (William Singer III) grassroots approach reminded us of the importance of passing down land-based knowledge to the younger generation and encouraged everyone to engage in climate work that draws on their unique skills and passions. The singer-songwriter Cikwes, and Angele’s sister, perform songs based in Cree language and inspired by stories in community and on the land, to an audience left in awe from her vocals at the gathering. Of note for Hector, the "Ma’nsstaam (Lodgepole Pine) Project: Reclaiming Access through Biocultural Relationships of Blackfoot Keystone Species" emphasized the significance of ceremony and advocated a broader definition of keystone species, including not only the buffalo but also buffalo grass, lodgepole pines, moose, deer, and tobacco. The research underscored how these sacred species merit keystone status and showcased the history and cultural importance of building teepees in Alberta.

For Lydia the Knowledge Keepers Circle session left a lasting impression. Dr. Gwen Point shared wisdom on intergenerational knowledge. She mentioned a teaching from her grandmother that resonated deeply with the team: “If you hear something four times, you’ll remember it forever”. This insight recalled memories of learning from Elders and reinforced the value of listening to their teachings.

The File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council Youth Advisory Council’s climate initiatives session stood out to Adrienne and demonstrated the importance of Indigenous youth voice in climate work. Led by Treaty 4 youth, this session revealed how the youth are reclaiming language, testing water quality, studying fish health, planting trees, and so much more in partnership with knowledge keepers and local experts. Supported by their Elders, these youth bring diverse skills to projects benefiting their communities, balancing commitment with joy in response to the devastating impacts of colonialism and climate change.

For Angele, providing the open remarks for the “Just Transition: Challenges and Opportunities for Youth, Workers, and Communities Working Nation to Nation” discussion panel was an honour, because she was inspired by CCPA researcher Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood as he provided a forecast for what Alberta would look like when the oil sands wind down. And she was encouraged by the First Nations leaders from Treaty 8 and Treaty 7 at the session that spoke about their own economic self-determination, and rights to economic justice and decent work in the transition.